What’s a Congregation Worth?

A look at whether a congregation adds economic value to its community.

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Related Elsewhere:

Previous articles related to church life and money & business include:

Should Congress Change Pastors' Housing Allowances? | The current tax code excludes the rental value of a home from pastors' taxable income. (March 28, 2011)

Are American Evangelicals Stingy? | Observers discuss whether Christians are generous enough with their money. (January 31, 2011)

How Evangelicals Give | Church members' giving is decreasing in the recession, especially as a percentage of income. (January 31, 2011)

CT previously spotlighted Christian names, how evangelicals give, evangelical vs. mainline politics, today's pilgrims, President Obama's faith, the future(s) of missions, health-care reform, Africa, American Idol, Haiti, Robert Park, persecution, Supreme Court and crosses, international religious liberty advocates, and church violence.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

April

Christianity Today April, 2011

Cover Story

Proselytizing in a Multi-Faith World

Ed Stetzer

God of the Schizophrenic

David Weiss

Evangelism as Sacrament

Owen Strachan

A Beautiful Anger

Linda Falter

Why We Love Amish Romances

Eric Miller

Books to Note

Excerpt

Counterfeit Gospels

Trevin Wax

Review

The Gods of the Checkout Aisle

Todd C. Ream

Poet Amena Brown Speaks the Truth in Rhythm and Rhymes

Mark Moring

Wilson's Bookmarks

John Wilson

Carolyn Arends Contemplates Her Own Death, and Yours

Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?

News

Sweat Lodge Prayers

Trevor Persaud

My Top 5 Books On Poverty

Brian Fikkert

Editorial

An Everyday Scandal

A Christianity Today Editorial

News

Rehab Revival: Evangelism Among Addicts Seeing Success

Bill Yoder in Moscow

An Improbable Alliance

Chuck Colson & Timothy George

News

Tough Calling in Africa

Ruth Moon in Niger

News

Pushing Back the Desert: Niger's Christians Get Creative for Daily Bread

Ruth Moon in Niger

Readers Write

News

Exit Visa: Iraqi Christians Look for Safe Haven

Ruth Moon

News

Thanksgiving Question Nearly Deports Tortured Christian

What Christian Novel Should Be Made Film?

Roy Anker, Steven D. Greydanus, and Barbara Nicolosi

News

Quotation Marks

Compiled by Ted Olsen

Two Peoples Separated by a Common Revelation

Multi-Faith Matters

News

Go Figure

Compiled by Ted Olsen

News

Borders' Bankruptcy Affects Christian Orgs, Pregnancy Center Signs Violate Free Speech & More News

News

Should Congress Change Pastors' Housing Allowances?

Compiled by Ruth Moon

Review

Rob Bell's Bridge Too Far

Our Latest

A Polaroid image of two parents and their children.

The Bulletin

Sunday Afternoon Reads: The Case for Kids

Leslie Leyland Fields

Leslie Leyland Fields reads her piece about being the mom of six kids amidst our country’s declining birth rate.

A picture of a dove flying in light.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Spirit

W. David O. Taylor

The Holy Spirit is present throughout the Nativity story. So why is the third person of the Trinity often missing from our Christmas carols?

Photos of Mike Cosper and Representative Adam Kinzinger.

The Bulletin

Brown University Shooting and The Last Republican

Mike Cosper, Clarissa Moll

Violence at Brown, and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger talks about Jan 6, courage, and global affairs.

A burned church building in Mangu, Nigeria on February 2, 2024, following weeks of violence and unrest in the Plateau State.

News

Amid Fear of Attacks, Many Nigerians Mute Christmas

Emmanuel Nwachukwu

One pastor has canceled celebrations and will only reveal the location of the Christmas service last-minute.

An image of MLK

A Time of Moral Indignation

Daniel Silliman

CT reports on civil rights, the “death of God” theology, and an escalating conflict in Vietnam.

Three book covers.

A Heartwarming Book on Sin

Three books on theology to read this month.

Analysis

Bondi Beach Shooting Compels Christians to Stand with Jews

The Bulletin with Josh Stanton and Robert Stearns

Jewish-Christian friendships offer solace and solidarity after antisemitic violence.

Two men sit at a table in what remains of their devastated Beirut apartment in 1984 during Lebanon's civil war.

Who Writes History When There Is No Winner?

Lebanon’s civil war is a taboo subject. A group of Christians and Muslims is broaching it.